(3) В¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Reader pause over those verses. The Apostle proposeth to write an Epistle to the Church, but he hath no sooner opened it with a salutation, than he leaves the consideration of the Church, and breaks out into an holy flame of praises to God. His heart was so full, in the contemplation of the divine love, that, like bottles ready to burst, he could no longer contain. Job 32:19. Oh! how doth this man's fervor reproach my coldness. Lord! take away this heart of stone of mine, and give me an heart of flesh! Ezekiel 36:26
But what was it which inflamed the Apostle's mind so highly on this occasion ? Perhaps, in part, the recollection that the Lord had blessed his ministry to the Ephesians. His farewell discourse, as recorded Acts 20:17, etc. affords a very high proof how dear this Church was to Paul. But though this might affect the Apostle, in the pleasing recollection, and for which he found cause to bless God; yet higher views were certainly opened to Paul's mind. God the Spirit intended this Epistle for a blessing to the Church in all ages; and whoever reads it, under the influence of the same Al mighty Teacher, must be led to see, that the Apostle was led out beyond himself, when the Lord directed his heart and pen, in this vast train of thought, here brought before the Church. Oh! that the Lord who caused Paul to write, may be with me to hear what the Spirit here saith to the Churches.
If the Reader will carefully observe what is contained in the opening of this most blessed Epistle, he will find, that the Apostle is celebrating the praises of the Holy undivided Persons of the Godhead, in their several distinct acts of grace, as manifested to the Church, and in giving to each, and to all, the glory due to the Lord Jehovah.
In those verses he begins with ascribing to God the Father, his personal acts of grace and love in choosing the Church in Christ, predestinating the persons of the Church to the adoption of children by Christ, and accepting the Church in Christ to the praise of the glory of his grace. And, as those three glorious acts of God the Father, are all said to be the result of his own good pleasure and will, so are they declared to be before the foundation of the world. As these sovereign acts of God the Father, though here compressed within a little compass, contain in their bosom immense designs, and are, indeed, the very charter of grace, I beg the Reader to pause over them a few moments, and consider each of them a little more particularly, as calling up the most awakened feelings of the soul, in love and praise.
The first which is spoken of is, that God hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Hence, it must undeniably follow, that when Christ, as Christ, that is, God and man in one Person, had, at the call of Jehovah, come up to the divine view, as the Head and Husband of his Church from everlasting. Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5:4-5; Psalms 89:19. this help-meet for him was chosen in him. It was not good in Jehovah's sight, that the God-man should be alone. Genesis 2:18. The Lord, therefore, chose the Church as a Bride for him, to be his companion, unto whom he might impart all communicable grace here, in the time-state of her nature, and all communicable glory, in the eternal state hereafter; and all to Christ's glory, that He might be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.
And I beg the Reader to remark with me, the blessedness of what the Apostle saith, concerning this choice that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love. This is the first and original view God had of the Church when chosen, holy, and without blame in Christ. This is the first and last view God hath always of the Church in Christ. In Christ there can be no change. For, though in the after-state which took place at the fall in the Adam - transgression, the Church became polluted in herself and her fallen nature; yet, the time-state of sin cannot do away the Lord's purposes of eternity. No sin in Adam can destroy the holiness in Christ. It is in Christ the Church is chosen, and in him chosen to be holy, and without blame before God in love. And by the undertaking which Christ hath accomplished in himself; and by his one offering of himself, once offered, he hath redeemed, his Church from all iniquity, and perfected forever them that are sanctified. And, as this was all along among the first designs of God, however last to be executed; so, the Church, when finally brought home by Christ, will still be found in Christ, holy and without blame, before God in love; and JESUS will present her to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but holy, and without blemish. Ephesians 5:27
When the Reader hath duly pondered this unspeakable mercy, let him pass on to the second manifestation of God the Father's love, which the Apostle hath recorded in this chapter, when he saith, having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Here is another distinguishing blessing hanging in one rich cluster of God's love, upon the same divine branch. Predestination differs somewhat from choosing, because, while the former act of choosing determines the Person, the latter of predestinating appoints the means. And the determination here spoken of, to Sonship in Christ, makes the means everlastingly certain and sure. For, saith the same Apostle elsewhere, if children then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17. The beloved Apostle was so struck with the contemplation of this view, that, unable to contain himself, he cried out, Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God! 1 John 3:1
And I beg the Reader yet further to observe, that this predestination to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, is blessedly said to be to himself. But who shall explain the full extent of this meaning? To himself! Is it, (I humbly ask the question, but presume not to answer), is it to Jehovah, in his threefold character of Person, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as in reference to each and to all, similar to that mysterious, but soul-comforting truth, where it is said, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself! 2 Corinthians 5:19. Or is it in a personal way, specially spoken, as by the Father? Reader! ponder the weighty words, for they are most blessed. To himself! Not to happiness only, simply in itself. Not to blessing's only in time, or blessings in eternity. Not to all the creation of God, with all that an eternal world can furnish. Not to these, but to God himself. Oh! the wonderful grace contained in the expression: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will! Sweetly the LORD speaks on this ground in several Scriptures: This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. Isaiah 43:21. So again: Know that Jehovah hath set apart him that is godly for himself; Psalms 4:3. So once more: For Jehovah hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar pleasure. Psalms 135:4. Reader! I do but glance at those rich things. To unfold them to the full is impossible!
The third gracious act of God the Father's love to the Church, which the Apostle hath noticed in this blessed Scripture, is, the acceptation of the Church in Christ, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. Here again, who shall unfold all the vast things contained in the bosom of this wonderful verse? And when considered as the close of the former, what a climax the whole riseth up into, of unspeakable blessings, First, chosen in Christ. Secondly, predestinated to glory in Christ. And, thirdly, accepted in Christ, as everlastingly united to him, and considered one with him forever!
And what endears this still more, and which I pray the Reader never to forget, of this acceptation of the persons of God's children in Christ is, that it is from everlasting, as well as the act of choosing and predestinating. The Apostle hath not yet in this chapter noticed any act of God the Son, or God the Holy Ghost, in their personal office character. Redemption by Christ, which is next to be spoken of, is not as yet brought forward. The accepting in the Beloved, is spoken of as a thing done before redemption became necessary. Indeed, what is said of choosing, and predestinating, and accepting, is said to be before the foundation of the world, and, consequently, before sin was known upon earth, or redemption from sin needful. The expression is strong, he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. The Apostle speaks of it as of a thing past; Whereas, in the following verse, when he comes to speak of redemption, he speaks of it as of a thing now, we have redemption in his blood. I beg the Reader not to overlook these things. In the vast subject we are now upon, every minute point is full of importance.
Here then let the Reader for the moment pause. Let him contemplate those three immense blessings, as the special personal acts and gifts of God the Father, and resulting from his fatherly love to Christ, as the Head of the Church, and to the Church, as in Him. First, the choice. Let the Reader observe, moreover, that this original and eternal choice of the persons of the Church, in all the individuals of the whole body, is said to be solely from himself, and according to the good pleasure of his will. No one cause, but from himself to himself, producing such gracious effects. Let the Reader duly ponder this. Then let him proceed to the further consideration, that this choice in God the Father was, that the Church should be holy, and without blame before him in love, most plainly showing, that as the Church is chosen in Christ, and Christ is the Holy One; the Church is holy in his holiness, and everlastingly considered in him, without blame before God in love. All the after circumstances of the fall, in the present time-state of the Church, (and for which, as we shall shortly see, all provision was made), cannot do away, neither counteract, those eternal purposes of GOD, which he purposed in himself. The Church was chosen to holiness in Christ, and in his holiness is beheld. Secondly, as chosen in Christ, and to holiness in Christ, so predestinated to sonship in Christ. And, thirdly, the full acceptation of our persons in Christ, is to the praise of the glory of his grace. Not only to the praise of his grace, but to the glory of his grace. As if God's glory was made more glorious its the manifestation of such riches of his grace. And to crown the whole, all these unspeakable gifts of God the Father are the result o f his own free and sovereign grace; before the foundation of the World; and, consequently, before the Church had being, and sin in Adam, to make the redemption by Christ necessary.